Vietnam Anchovy: A Complete Guide for Seafood Buyers and Importers

Vietnam anchovy is one of the most popular small pelagic fish in global seafood trade. Anchovy is affordable, nutritious, and easy to process into many product forms. If you are a seafood buyer, importer, or procurement manager looking for a reliable anchovy supplier, this guide covers everything you need: the fish itself, the fishing season, export products, the processing factory, main export markets, and how to get a quotation.

1. Overview of Vietnam Anchovy

Anchovy is a small, silver-colored fish that lives in schools near the coast. In Vietnam, people call it Cá Cơm. There are several common species, such as:

• Stolephorus chinensis – known as Gray Anchovy or Cá Cơm Than
• Stolephorus commersonnii – White Anchovy
• Other local varieties used for fish sauce and dried fish

Vietnam has a long coastline with rich fishing grounds from north to south. This gives the country a steady, year-round supply of fresh anchovy for processing and export.

Why Vietnam Anchovy Is Popular with Buyers

• Low cost per kilogram compared to many other seafood species
• High protein and omega-3 content
• Wild-caught, with no farming or additives
• Easy to use in many product forms (frozen, dried, sauce, snack)

Anchovy Nutrition Facts (per 100 g)

• Calories: about 130 kcal
• Protein: about 20 g
• Fat: about 5 g
• Omega-3 fatty acids: about 1.3 g
• Rich in Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, calcium, and iron

This nutrition profile makes anchovy attractive for health-focused food brands, canned fish products, and traditional condiments like fish sauce.

2. Anchovy Fishing Season and Catching Methods in Vietnam

Anchovy Fishing Season

Anchovy fishing in Vietnam runs almost all year, but the peak season is different by region:

• Central Vietnam (Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Phu Yen): main season from March to August
• Southern Vietnam (Kien Giang, Vung Tau, Con Dao): fishing continues through most of the year, with strong catches in the second half

Buyers who plan large orders should ask their supplier about the current season, since price and volume can shift depending on the catch.

How Anchovy Is Caught

Vietnamese fishermen use a few traditional methods:

• Purse seine nets – the most common method for catching large schools of anchovy
• Lift nets (Mành Chà) – used with light to attract fish at night
• Small trawl nets – used in some coastal areas

After the catch, fish are immediately stored in ice on the boat. This step is important, because fast cooling keeps the fish fresh until it reaches the factory for processing.

3. Anchovy Products Vietnam Exports

Vietnamese factories turn raw anchovy into several export-ready products:

Frozen Anchovy Whole Round 

The most common export form. The whole fish is cleaned, sized, and frozen without cutting. Typical size is 4–6 cm/pc. packing in 400 g/tray x 20 trays/carton (packing can be changed per buyer request). This anchovy whole round is used by importers, wholesalers, and food processors.

Product information: Frozen Anchovy Whole Round 

Dried Anchovy

Sun-dried or machine-dried anchovy, often salted. Popular as a snack food or as an ingredient for soups and stir-fry dishes in Asian cuisine.

Product information: Dried Gray Anchovy

Product information: Dried White Anchovy

Anchovy for Fish Sauce Production

Fresh anchovy is a key raw material for traditional fish sauce (nước mắm). Vietnam has a long history of fish sauce making, and buyers in the sauce and condiment industry often source anchovy in bulk for this purpose.

Seasoned or Fried Anchovy (Value-Added)

Some factories also produce ready-to-eat anchovy snacks, such as crispy fried anchovy with garlic, for retail and foodservice markets.

4. Baseafood – A Trusted Anchovy Processing Factory in Vietnam

When choosing an anchovy supplier, food safety and consistency matter as much as price. Baseafood is a Vietnam-based seafood processing company with a strong track record in frozen fish export, including anchovy.

Why Buyers Work with Baseafood

• Long experience in seafood processing and export
• Certified under HACCP, BRC, FDA, HALAL, SMETA, and ISO standards
• Controlled cold chain: fish are washed, graded, quickly frozen, metal-detected, and stored at -18°C or below
• Flexible order sizes, including mixed containers with other frozen fish products
• Support for private label and custom packing

These certifications are important for buyers who import into regulated markets such as the EU, US, Japan, and the Middle East, since they confirm the factory meets international food safety requirements.

5. Export Markets for Vietnam Anchovy

Vietnam Anchovy is shipped to buyers around the world. Common export markets include:

• China – strong demand for frozen and dried anchovy
• Japan and South Korea – anchovy used in broths, side dishes, and processed food
• Southeast Asia (Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia) – anchovy is a daily food ingredient in these countries
• Middle East – demand for Halal-certified frozen anchovy
• Europe and North America – used in canned products, condiments, and ethnic food distribution

Each market has its own preference for size, packing, and product form, so it's helpful to share your target market with the supplier before requesting a quotation.

6. Why Import Anchovy from Vietnam

• Natural sourcing: wild-caught, no farming, no additives
• Competitive pricing: strong production volume keeps FOB/CIF prices attractive
• Full export support: experienced suppliers provide complete documentation for customs clearance
• Flexible packing: order sizes and packaging can be adjusted to fit retail, foodservice, or industrial processing needs

7. Contact Baseafood Sales for a Quotation

If you need frozen or dried anchovy from Vietnam, Baseafood can support your sourcing with product specifications, samples, and export documentation.

Contact: Ms. Nguyen 

Email: nguyen.thao@baseafood.net 

WhatsApp / Zalo / Skype / WeChat: +84 702 520 288

8. Frequently Asked Questions

What types of anchovy does Vietnam export? Vietnam mainly exports frozen whole round anchovy, dried anchovy, and anchovy used as raw material for fish sauce.

When is the best season to buy Vietnam anchovy? The peak season is from March to August in central Vietnam, though supply is available for most of the year from southern fishing grounds.

What packing sizes are common for frozen anchovy? A common packing is 400 g/tray x 20 trays/carton, but this can be adjusted based on buyer requirements.

What certifications does Baseafood hold? Baseafood is certified under HACCP, BRC, FDA, HALAL, SMETA, and ISO standards.

How do I request a sample or price quotation? Contact Baseafood by email or WhatsApp with your product requirements, target size, packing, and order quantity.